Evaluation of disparities in physical development and dental age of two specific groups of boys.

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate potential differences between the physical development and the dental age in two groups of male pupils from two schools with different socio-economic profiles in the city of Torun (Poland). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total number of 286 school boys (age: 9-12 years) was examined: Group A consisted of 104 pupils of a private school (mean age: 10.36-/+0.1 years), group B were 182 normally intellectually developed, non-handicapped pupils (10.59-/+0.1 years) of a therapeutic school for children with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, dysgraphy, ADHD or severe speech disorders. The parameters of the physical development (body height, body weight) and the dental age assessed by eruption were evaluated based on a biological frame of reference and percentile charts. RESULTS: The two groups showed distinct disparities in physical and dental development: the mean values of body height were significantly higher in group A than group B (p<0.02). In addition, differences in percentile distributions of body height, body mass and dental age showed statistical significance (p<0.001, 0.01 and 0.01, respectively). The relationship between body height/body mass and dental age was not statistically significant (p>0.3). CONCLUSION: The pronounced disparities concerning physical and dental development within boys of different socio-demographic background should be taken into account by health professionals. No correlation was found between physical and dental development.

Comparative animal study on hard tissue integration and bone formation of different Nobel Biocare implants.

Dental implantation aims at optimal and long-term hard tissue integration. Beside primary stability, loading time and other factors, e.g. the surface of the endosteal part of the implant, is a matter of special importance. In this animal trial, hard tissue integration of two different implant types was studied using radiological, histological and histomorphometric analysis. Two different implants with an oxidized surface (TiUnite; Nobel Biocare AB, Goteborg, Sweden, NobelReplace Tapered Groovy 4.3 x 10 mm and Replace Select Tapered 4.3 x 10 mm) were inserted into the right and left mandibles of 10 German domestic pigs between canine and premolar and immediately provided with a ceramic crown. The primary implant stability was determined using resonance frequency analysis. After 70 days, the test animals were killed and specimens were collected for histological and histomorphometric examination. All implants showed good primary stability after surgery. Histological and histomorphometrical analysis revealed no significant differences in the bone apposition. The immediate loading of the different implant types don't have any negative effects on the bone apposition in the period of 70 days. The long-term effects of immediate loading of these types of implant requires further studies.